Date: Sat, 23 Aug 1997 10:11:03 -0400
From: Riki Anne Wilchins
Subject: HERM-PROTEST OF JOCELYN ELDERS AT LESBIAN EVENT
MEDIA ADVISORY - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cheryl Chase
(415)575-3885, CChase@ISNA.Org
HERM-PROTEST OF JOCELYN ELDERS AT LESBIAN EVENT
===============================================
[Washington, DC: 20 Sep 97] THE ACTIVIST
GROUPS HERMAPHRODITES WITH ATTITUDE (HWA) and
Transexual Menace today protested Dr. Jocelyn
Elders' keynote address to a Mautner
Lesbians With Cancer Project fund-raiser, held
in the Washington Hilton. Dr. Elders, a
former US Surgeon General, is an outspoken
advocate of Intersex Genital Mutilation
(IGM), a cosmetic surgery performed on the
genitals of intersexed infants so they will
look like "normal" males and females.
Eight demonstrators carried banners
saying "Dr. Elders: Keep Your Scalpels OFF
Our Bodies" and "Intersex Kids Need
Counseling NOT Cutting", and distributed IGM
leaflets to attendees as they arrived for the
$100-a-plate dinner. [Flier Text Follows]
Several attendees expressed shock and
dismay upon learning of Dr. Elders' position,
noting that she is generally considered a
supporter of lesbian and feminist causes, and
enlightened on most matters of adolescent
sexuality. However, the flier noted
that on "correcting" queer genitals,
Dr. Elders has written: "...just take out
everything and make a good vaginal pouch and
the child can function very well as a
female," and "I always told my students,
I can make a good female, but it's very hard
to make a male."
"We're not protesting the Mautner
Project," explained HWA founder, Cheryl
Chase, "we're calling attention to Dr.
Elders' support of IGM and her continued
refusal to meet with us on an issue
that affects our lives. One reason IGM is
performed is the fear that girls born with
clitorises considered 'too large' will grow
up to be masculine or lesbian. We want to
bring awareness to the Lesbian and Gay
community that IGM is a queer issue."
Although intersexuality was once
considered rare, according to noted Brown
University medical researcher Dr. Anne
Fausto-Sterling, about 8 intersex children
are genitally cut in US hospitals every working
day for cosmetic reasons. Stated Chase, "We
will continue to seek a meeting with Dr. Elders,
and anticipate that once she takes IGM seriously,
she will support out position."
Following the demonstration, HWA and the
Menace donated a $100 to the Mautner Project
in the name of intersexed infants.
[Flier text starts]
JOCELYN ELDERS SUPPORTS
INTERSEX* GENITAL MUTILATION (IGM)
(* a Hermaphrodite; someone whose genitals
are not clearly male or female)
US HOSPITALS GENITALLY CUT 8 INTERSEXED
KIDS EVERY DAY JUST SO THEIR GENITALS
WILL LOOK "NORMAL."
MOST WILL LOSE GENITAL SENSATION.
MANY ARE CUT SO THEY
WON'T "BECOME LESBIANS."
JOCELYN ELDERS SUPPORTS THIS PRACTICE!
DID YOU KNOW?
The vast majority of children diagnosed as
intersexed by American doctors and genitally cut
are otherwise unremarkable infants who simply have
clitorises more than 3/8" long. Many are
genitally cut in the mistaken belief that
otherwise they may grow up to be masculinized,
lesbian women or have difficulty functioning as
"normal, heterosexual adults" later in life.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to noted Brown University medical
researcher Dr. Anne Fausto-Sterling, 2,000
intersex infants are genitally cut for
cosmetic reasons in US hospitals annually:
that's 8 infants from 3 weeks to 3 years old
cut every working day. Yet the American Academy
of Pediatricians' own statement on IGM says
these infants are genitally cut to minimize
"emotional, cognitive, and body image" problems
and not for any medical reason.
DID YOU KNOW?
Jocelyn Elders on intersexed infants and
"correcting" queer genitals: "...just take out
everything and make a good vaginal pouch and
the child can function very well as a female."
"I always told my students, 'I can make a good
female, but it's very hard to make a male.'"
Ever hear of informed consent? Dr. Elders
refuses to even meet with the intersexed
community or IGM survivors. Intersex kids
need counseling, not cutting!
HEY DR. ELDERS:
GET YOUR SCALPELS OFF OUR BODIES!!!
We're not quiet.
We're not well-behaved.
And we're not going away.
(A public service announcement from
your local chapter of Hermaphrodites
With Attitude 415-575-3885.)
[Flier text ends]
###
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